What Is Intermittent Fasting and Should I Do It?

There’s a buzz about intermittent fasting in the news, magazines, Instagram, and blogs. It seems everyone is doing it. But, what is it exactly? Is it safe? Does it speed up keto progress? Is it worth doing? Let’s demystify the practice so you can confidently answer these questions and determine whether fasting is right for you.

What is Intermittent FastingFundamentally, fasting is voluntary prolonged abstinence from food, beverage, or both, for a specific amount of time, ranging from hours to weeks. Though it’s a white-hot trend in the health and fitness world, it’s not a remotely new concept. In fact, fasting has been practiced for thousands of years in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and native tribal religions/spirituality, and beyond as a ritual to heal the body and soul, as a form of penance/sacrifice, and to purify. (Think Ramadan for Muslims, Uposatha for Buddhists, and Ash Wednesday and Good Friday for the Roman Catholic church.) But fasting has also always had clinical health-related appeal to physicians and philosophers, dating as far back as the times of Hippocrates, Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle.

Hippocrates, generally regarded as the father of medicine, said, “Everyone has a doctor in him or her; we just have to help it in its work. The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well. Our food should be our medicine. Our medicine should be our food. But to eat when you are sick, is to feed your sickness.” This quote embodies the core philosophy of the keto diet--feed your body food that promotes health. It also nods to the role of fasting, or refraining from eating to help fight sickness and promote wellness.

Intermittent fasting, or alternating cycles of fasting and eating, is a way of making fasting an ongoing part of a health-minded lifestyle. We’ll discuss how and for how long below, but first let’s explore the benefits.

Benefits of Intermittent FastingFollowing are the benefits of intermittent fasting. You’ll see they’re similar to those of a keto diet. If used in conjunction with a keto lifestyle, fasting heightens the benefits you’re already getting.

Mental clarity

Increased energy

Weight loss

Reduced body fat %

Lowered blood insulin levels

Lower glucose levels

Lower cholesterol levels

Reduction and possible elimination of diabetes medications (as prescribed by a healthcare provider)

Reduction of inflammation

Increased level of ketosis (In the fasted state, your body deplete your glucose stores and turn to fats for fuel, pushing most people who don't even follow a ketogenic diet into ketosis for at least a brief period of time. Between this and the decrease in insulin you are setting your body up for optimal ketosis.)

How to Intermittent FastSome of the more popular intermittent fasting methods/schedules are the following:

16:8 (16 hours fasting per day)

14:10 (14 hours fasting per day)

OMAD (one meal a day)

5:2 (eat 5 days per week, partial fast for 2 days)

Let’s break those down.The 16:8 methodof intermittent fasting works by fasting for 16 hours, then consuming your meals/macros/calories during an eight hour period of time. During this time regardless of diet preference it is suggested to eat lower glycemic foods such as vegetables, fruits, meats, nuts, and some dairy and ensure you are getting plenty of fiber. The same is true for the14:10 scheduleof intermittent fasting; you go 14 hours without eating, then eat your meals/calories during a 10 hour period of time. During both the 16:8 and 14:10 schedules you should be able to fit in 2 to 3 meals, and you’ll want to maintain proper hydration and keep up your electrolytes.

For theone meal a day or OMAD method of fasting, you eat only one meal a day and fast until the next day’s meal. This means you are getting all, or at the very least most, of your calories, vitamins, and minerals in that one meal.

With the5:2 intermittent fasting schedule, you eat 5 days of the week and do a 500 to 600 calorie fast for the remaining 2 days.

With each of these options, you are still allowed to drink black tea, coffee, and water during the fasting state. This helps to keep you hydrated and, in some cases, wards off hunger. It’s also thought in many circles that you can add additions to your water, coffee, or tea and not break your fast as long as they are under 50 calories.

See the timelines below for example fasting schedules, but note that fasting is very personal and you need to take your own bio-individuality into consideration when determining what works for you.

Examples of Eating Schedules on Various Intermittent Fasting Periods

16:8

14:10

OMAD

5:2

First Meal at 11am

First Meal at 9am

Fast

Eat as you normally do

Second Meal at 2pm

*optional*

Second Meal at 2pm

Only Meal at any time, usually dinner or late lunch

But you also

need to fast 2 out of 5 FULL days

Final Meal at 7pm

Final Meal at 7pm

Fast

Tips For Intermittent FastingIf you’re considering fasting, we recommend you heed the following advice:

Consult your healthcare provider before making any dietary changes.

Make sure to stay properly hydrated.

Ensure you get the appropriate amount of electrolytes each day regardless of intermittent or extended fasting.

Feel free to experiment with different fasting times to see what works best for you.

Start slowly! Try intermittent fasting one day a week and slowly work up to the amount of days a week you would like to implement intermittent fasting.

When you’re in the eating/feeding state, choose low-glycemic and nutritious foods that are high in fiber, minerals, and vitamins to maintain optimal health.

For optimal results, pair intermittent fasting with your low-carb or ketogenic lifestyle, which naturally uses fat for fuel in a similar way that fasting does.

How Long to FastThe duration of any intermittent fast is based on your individual desires, needs, and body; it’s great for anyone interested in weight loss, blood glucose control, or therapeutic benefits in relation to cancer, autoimmune disorders, and inflammation. It can be done for one day or a few days per week (women are generally said to benefit most from 14 hour fasts) or for as long as you like and as long as it feels right for you.

Within the first week, you’re likely to experience heightened appetite control and improved blood-glucose control, with the additional benefits following shortly thereafter. For those new to intermittent fasting, starting out fasting 10 to 16 hours fasting two days a week, then see how you feel. Depending on your goals, you may want to step this up to 5 days a week or even 7 days a week.

Extended FastingExtended fasting is going for 24 hours or more on a “wet” fast (liquids only). While it may have therapeutic benefits (to address cancer, obesity, and neuroprotective properties), the research is still in its infancy and this type of fasting is not for the newbie. Dr. Jason Fung, one of the most cited physicians around fasting and the author ofThe Complete Guide to Fasting,explains why: “Instead of undertaking shorter fasts and gradually extending it, [people new to fasting] immediately opt for a full on water-only extended fast. This is like a rookie mountaineer that decides that he/she will tackle Mount Everest, without oxygen and push on to the summit irregardless of weather.”

Extended fasts should only be done under medical supervision with the use of monitoring through blood tests, urinalysis, and physician physical exams and supplementation of vitamins, minerals, and hydration.

Who Should Not FastFasting isn’t for everyone, especially people who are any of the following:

Underweight with a BMI of 18.5 or less

Malnourished

Children

Pregnant women

Breastfeeding women

Hypoglycemic

Eating disorders

Note: While intermittent fasting can be quite beneficial for the diabetic, it’s best to work closely with your healthcare provider to ensure that it’s implemented in a safe and healthy way.

Mojo On!Want to try intermittent fasting but worried you can’t handle extended periods without food? You may want to reframe your thinking. In his book, Dr. Fung makes a great point: "We talk a lot about what you should eat and what you shouldn't eat. But people never talk about meal timing — making sure you have long periods where you're not eating. Look at the word ‘breakfast’ in English. That's break fast. That's the meal that breaks your fast. This implies that fasting is a part of everyday life. We've forgotten that. We think it's some sort of Herculean effort, but it's not. We should be fasting every day.”